Graduation Requirements

South Carolina Board of Education (SBE) Regulation 43-234 lists requirements for public high school students to graduate with a South Carolina High School Diploma. Once legislative approval is granted to amend Regulation No. 43-234 DEFINED PROGRAM, GRADES 9–12 AND GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS, the graduation requirements beginning with the entering freshman class of 2023–24 will be as follows: 

South Carolina High School Graduation Requirements

• English - 4 credits

• Mathematics - 4 credits

• Natural Science - 3 credits (must include Biology)

• Social Studies - 1 credit

• US History - 1 credit

• US Government - .5 credit

• Economics - .5 credit

• Physical Education or JRTOC or Marching Band - 1 credit

• Computer Science - 1 credit

• World Language or Career & Technology Education Elective - 1 credit

• Electives - 7 credits (must include Health)*

  • • *Beginning with the Class of 2027: Personal Finance .5 credit 

TOTAL = 24 credits

Additional requirements for students entering a 4-year college in South Carolina:

• Mathematics: must include Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, and a fourth higher level math 

• Science: 3 lab sciences are required (2 credits must be taken from two different fields: earth science, biology, chemistry, or physics). It’s strongly recommended that students desiring to pursue STEM careers take one course in all four fields.

• World Language: 2 credits of the same world language (Clemson recommends 3 world languages for bachelor of arts majors and 2 world languages for bachelor of science majors. Wofford requires 3 credits of the same world language.) 

• Fine Arts: 1 credit in appreciation of, history of, or performance in one of the fine arts

For a complete explanation of all graduation requirements, provisions for granting high school credit and dual credit, please refer to SBE Regulation 43-234: Defined Program, Grades 9-12 and Graduation Requirements.